What opera have you been listening to, lately?

[Ann Lander (sospiro)]

Continuing my Tutto Verdi project - after a quick listen to



and



I'm about to embark upon a Macbeth marathon including more research into the history of the opera. At the ROH Insight into Macbeth in 2011, Pappano was interviewed and he said that Verdi had seen the play in the very theatre which was to become the Royal Opera House. Now I can't find reference to this anywhere. I didn't imagine it and I'm sure Pappano couldn't be wrong so I'm determined to find it if I can.

I'll be listening to the versions I currently have -



as soon as I can get a cheap used copy I'll get this



then

[Dark_Angel]

as soon as I can get a cheap used copy I'll get this



then

Love love love that opera, so many great moments for Lady M........

[Ann Lander (sospiro)]

Love love love that opera, so many great moments for Lady M........

I know! Planning on seeing it at one of my favourite houses in Amsterdam, next April. It's a new production so I have no idea what it will be like but I enjoyed Breth/Albrecht's The Gambler so fingers crossed it will be good.

[Xavier35]

[Soave_Fanciulla]

On first listen to this I can't say I enjoyed this much, but then I often find myslef getting a bit bored by bel canto opera seria. I will give it another whirl to see if familiarity improves it. Belisario fans, what are your favourite arias, preferably for male voices or mezzos?



On the other hand I thought this was wonderful. Kasarova and Vargas at the peak of their vocal powers (no register breaks for our Vesselina here), and some lovely music. Highly recommended.



I've really come to like La Wally, it's a strange little opera but there is definitely more to it than the Ebben.. aria. I'm sure there could be a better recording, Marton has her big wobbly moments, but I still enjoyed this.



Now this is a really underrated opera, wonderful atmospheric music and a good recording.

[Dark_Angel]

I've really come to like La Wally, it's a strange little opera but there is definitely more to it than the Ebben.. aria. I'm sure there could be a better recording, Marton has her big wobbly moments, but I still enjoyed this.

For modern stereo studio recording of La Wally the famous Tebaldi recording is first choice, strong supporting cast with Del Monaco etc........




I refuse to pay the high price of those "opera rara" label releases, only Clayton can afford them .......

[Soave_Fanciulla]

For modern stereo studio recording of La Wally the famous Tebaldi recording is first choice, strong supporting cast with Del Monaco etc........

Yes, the library has it so I'm going to order it.

I refuse to pay the high price of those "opera rara" label releases, only Clayton can afford them .......

The library bought that for me too!

[Hoffmann]

Available at archivmusic.com for US $28 - not cheap, maybe, but worth it!
Also available as a download from iTunes for $14.99...

Also:
Many Opera Rara recordings are available for download from iTunes for $29.95 - not ideal, but they record lots of bel canto stuff not otherwise available. I've bought several this way, and they have have been fine (other than, Clayton forgive me, that Il Pirata with a very, very squally Carmen Giannattasio). I haven't heard Belisario but, with the usual exceptions, find Donizetti's operas to be highly inconsistent in their quality.

[Hoffmann]

Continuing my Tutto Verdi project - after a quick listen to



and



I'm about to embark upon a Macbeth marathon including more research into the history of the opera. At the ROH Insight into Macbeth in 2011, Pappano was interviewed and he said that Verdi had seen the play in the very theatre which was to become the Royal Opera House. Now I can't find reference to this anywhere. I didn't imagine it and I'm sure Pappano couldn't be wrong so I'm determined to find it if I can.

I'll be listening to the versions I currently have -



as soon as I can get a cheap used copy I'll get this



then

Macbeth is a really wonderful opera - it was the Gardelli/Suliotis/Fischer-Dieskau recording that really made me take notice. How did your listening go?

I also like the Schippers/Nilsson recording:

[Hoffmann]

I'm glad to be back home and listening to real sound again!




and:

[Soave_Fanciulla]

I'm glad to be back home and listening to real sound again!

I'm happy you're back too!

[Soave_Fanciulla]

Cannot stop listening to the Demon. I think it is going into my top twenty favourite operas.



And watching youtubes, subtitled by Paul Grief aka Nervous Gentleman on forums.

The 1960 Soviet film, although heavily abridged, is wonderful. Sergei Lemeshev is the Prince and boy can he rock it.



The production from Latvia suffers from poor filming and an uneven cast, but under that appalling knitting-wool black wig is a very young Kristine Opolais.

[Ann Lander (sospiro)]

Macbeth is a really wonderful opera - it was the Gardelli/Suliotis/Fischer-Dieskau recording that really made me take notice. How did your listening go?

I also like the Schippers/Nilsson recording:

Listening going well. It's interesting how different conductors interpret the tempi and will look out for the Schippers version.

Have just acquired a cheap Gardelli so that will be my listening when I set off for work in a few minutes.

(good to see you back )

[Hoffmann]

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...L._SL1500_.jpg

I never even heard of Anton Rubinstein, much less The Demon! I've added it to my ever-growing wish list, though I'm generally not so enthusiastic about Russian opera.

While I'm on the subject, I'm thinking that War and Peace is probably worth another listen - I was lucky to see a performance with Gergiev at the Kennedy Center some years ago, and thought it overblown. However, we are talking about opera, so what's so wrong with overblown?

[Ann Lander (sospiro)]

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...L._SL1500_.jpg

I never even heard of Anton Rubinstein, much less The Demon! I've added it to my ever-growing wish list, though I'm generally not so enthusiastic about Russian opera.

in depth

While I'm on the subject, I'm thinking that War and Peace is probably worth another listen - I was lucky to see a performance with Gergiev at the Kennedy Center some years ago, and thought it overblown. However, we are talking about opera, so what's so wrong with overblown?

Nothing whatsoever!! The more overblown, the better.